Exploring Norway: A family adventure awaits this summer: Travel Weekly

Felicity Long

Summer is officially here, and with it comes the age-old question of where to take the kids for vacation.

With that in mind, Visit Norway is making a play for families that haven’t already firmed up their summer plans and are looking for somewhere visitor-friendly where children of all ages can absorb the culture and let off steam with an array of indoor and outdoor activities.

Here are their top tips for cool things to do, which encompass nearly every region of the destination:

Take a hike. Norwegians are known for taking even their youngest children hiking, and there are so many trails to choose from, such as Gaustatoppen in Telemark, Keiservarden in Bodo or Utladalen in the Sognefjord area, that there’s an entire website dedicated to the best ones.

There are even trails designed to be more accessible for parents with strollers as well as for hikers using wheelchairs and walkers. 

Mountains and ziplines

Want something more challenging? Tackle a trail on Galdhopiggen, Norway’s highest mountain, which is accessible from Juvasshytta via gondolas.

Or hop on a mountain bike on trails for all skill levels. Top suggestions include Trysil, which features trails and jumps; Hafjell Bike Park, with more than 19 downhill trails; and the Summer Park at Geilo with family-friendly trails.

Ziplining is increasingly popular with families, and Norway offers a wide range of options, some of which, like the Loen, whiz riders over fjords at dizzying heights. Some ziplines are combined with climbing walls. The Over climbing tower in Lillesand in southern Norway and Hoyt & Lavt, in Vestfold, are two to try.

Beaches and Vikings

If all this sounds a bit too high-adrenaline for the family, hit the beach. Visit Norway isn’t pretending that the water is Caribbean-level warm, but with white sand under your toes and miles of coastline to explore — not to mention crystal clear lakes with their own smaller shores — small fry can while away an afternoon making sandcastles while families with teens can hop on kayaks from secluded coves.

Kids who love dress-up can be a Viking for a day at one of Norway’s Viking centers, with activities that include sailing on a Viking ship. At the Medieval Farm in Stiklastadir, children can join a pretend battle, shoot with a bow and arrow and visit a Viking house. 

Animal lovers can see native fauna like elk, bears, wolves and moose, at Norway’s many zoos and wildlife parks. You can even join a moose safari with a trained guide and usually by car.

Theme parks and museums

Theme parks are a perennial family favorite, and Dyreparken in Kristiansand is a unique zoo-and-theme-park combo with a waterpark with its own “pirate” land where kids walk the plank.

Other options include Kongeparken in Rogaland, Tusenfryd near Oslo or Hunderfossen Family Park in Lillehammer, known for its rides and troll theme.

Norway’s science museums are full of hands-on activities, climbing walls and virtual reality zones. The Technical Museum in Oslo features an engaging summer program, while the Kistefos Sculpture Park is an outdoor venue with eye-popping, and sometimes spooky, sculptures.

Why now? One reason for visiting Norway in summer is the midnight sun, which means that kids can stay up longer and make the most out of each vacation day.

Where to stay

Accommodations are plentiful and include traditional hotels — Scandic and Radisson each have 90 properties around the country, for example. Or families can opt for stays at one of De Historiske’s 66 historic properties throughout the destination.

Cabin living is also big in Norway, and options range from rustic to posh and can even include stays in a lighthouse or tree house. 

Visit Norway is especially proud of its new Fairytale Finder App, designed to help travel advisors and families — especially those with kids age 4 to 12 — navigate the dizzying number of options for things to do and places to stay.